Regional News

ComfortDelGro’s consortium with RATP Dev, known as KBH Metro Partner, has been prequalified to bid for the operations and maintenance contract of the Copenhagen Metro. This strategic move aims to expand ComfortDelGro’s international rail footprint and strengthen its presence in key markets. The Copenhagen Metro, comprising four lines, 44 stations, and 43 kilometres of track, serves approximately 400,000 travellers each weekday and recorded 126 million passenger journeys in 2024.

The prequalification of KBH Metro Partner highlights the consortium’s expertise in managing complex metro systems, having competed against a strong field of international contenders. Both ComfortDelGro and RATP Dev bring extensive experience from major metro projects in cities such as Paris, Singapore, Riyadh, and Lyon. This bid marks the third collaboration between the two companies on complex rail projects, following successful joint ventures in Paris with the Grand Paris Express Line 15 South and in Singapore with the Jurong Region Line.

The potential contract for the Copenhagen Metro represents a significant opportunity for KBH Metro Partner to leverage its combined expertise and further establish its reputation in the global metro operations market. As the bidding process progresses, the consortium’s proven track record in managing large-scale metro projects will be a critical factor in its success.
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Amadeus, a leader in travel technology solutions, has been selected by Corporate Information Travel Sdn Bhd (CIT) in Malaysia to spearhead its digital transformation. CIT will transition to the Amadeus Travel Platform, aiming to enhance its air content and modernise its technological capabilities. This move is part of CIT’s strategy to build a scalable system that supports business growth and operational efficiency.

CIT’s Managing Director, Thaddeus Foo, expressed confidence in the partnership, stating, “We are confident that Amadeus will help us deliver on our digital transformation vision. We want our consultants to spend less time on repetitive tasks so they have more time to prioritise customer service and company values.” The collaboration will also enable CIT to offer a more client-oriented website with modern content, including New Distribution Capability (NDC), ensuring its competitiveness in the digital retail space.

Ramona Bohwongprasert, Senior Vice President of Southeast Asia Inside Sales and Startups at Amadeus, highlighted the significance of the partnership, saying, “This deal demonstrates the strength of Amadeus’ holistic travel technology offering beyond content, including digital retailing, automation, productivity, and back-office solutions.”

Established in 1985 and based in Kuala Lumpur, CIT has been a pioneer in business travel management, recently celebrating its 40th anniversary. The company provides airline reservations and ticketing services, offering competitive airfares from over 130 airlines worldwide. This partnership with Amadeus marks a significant step in CIT’s journey to future-proof and scale its business in the evolving travel industry.

The Malaysian property sector demonstrated resilience in the second quarter of 2025, with property transaction values increasing by 14% year-on-year (YoY), according to a recent report by UOB Kay Hian. Despite some companies like SP Setia, Sunway Bhd, and Lagenda falling short of expectations due to higher expenses and slower revenue recognition, the sector overall maintained a positive outlook, buoyed by strong industrial demand and significant activity in the Johor region.

The report highlighted that the property market’s transaction volume rose by 4% YoY, driven by a robust industrial segment and a notable rebound in Johor’s property transactions, which increased by 17% YoY. This growth was supported by resilient demand for industrial land and mass-market housing, alongside strong foreign direct investment inflows.

UOB Kay Hian maintained an “overweight” rating on the sector, citing a favourable interest rate environment and infrastructure developments as key drivers. The firm identified Sunway, Eco World, and Mah Sing as top picks, with Sunway’s upcoming healthcare IPO in the first quarter of 2026 expected to be particularly rewarding.

However, the sector faces challenges, including a 19% year-on-year increase in unsold completed units, although this is attributed to simultaneous project completions. The report remains optimistic, expecting the overhang to improve as the market absorbs new supply, aided by lower interest rates and demand driven by the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone.

Looking forward, the sector’s prospects are bolstered by anticipated government focus on affordable housing in the upcoming Budget 2026, which could further stimulate demand.

Singapore has made a remarkable leap in the 2025 Global Retirement Index (GRI) by Natixis Investment Managers, climbing 12 places to secure the 13th position globally. This advancement is largely attributed to improvements in Material Wellbeing, Finances in Retirement, and Quality of Life, despite a slight decline in Health.

The city-state’s progress is highlighted by its rise in the Material Wellbeing sub-index, where it jumped 18 places to eighth globally. This improvement is driven by reductions in unemployment and increases in income per capita and income equality. In the Finances in Retirement sub-index, Singapore now ranks third, trailing only Ireland and Switzerland, thanks to its top performance in tax pressure and improvements in old age dependency and governance.

Dora Seow, Singapore CEO for Natixis IM, commented, “Whilst retirement pressures across the globe are rising, I am proud to see Singapore’s remarkable progress in the GRI, driven by a strong improvement in Material Wellbeing.”

Globally, Norway reclaimed the top spot in the index, followed by Ireland and Switzerland. The report also highlighted challenges such as inflation and ageing populations, which continue to impact retirement security worldwide. According to the Natixis survey, 43% of individual investors believe achieving retirement security will require a miracle, with inflation cited as a major concern.

Singapore’s significant progress in the GRI underscores the effectiveness of its fiscal policies and long-term planning, positioning it as a leader in retirement security in Asia.

Singapore has taken a significant step in strengthening its economic collaboration with Vietnam by launching a new Professional Services (PS) Centre in Ho Chi Minh City. The centre, established by the Alliance—a coalition of Singapore’s leading trade associations and professional bodies—serves as a one-stop gateway for enterprises aiming to enter Vietnam’s dynamic economy. It offers professional services, regulatory guidance, market intelligence, and business networks to facilitate cross-border growth.

The Alliance, comprising eight trade associations and professional bodies, including the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and the Singapore Business Federation, aims to create a collaborative platform for regional expansion. The launch follows the successful establishment of the first PS Centre in Shanghai earlier this year.

The Ho Chi Minh City hub is strategically positioned to assist businesses in navigating local regulations and building trusted networks. ISCA President Teo Ser Luck highlighted the centre’s role in bridging gaps for Singapore enterprises by providing access to professional services expertise and local partners with deep market knowledge.

Vietnam has become one of Singapore’s top investment destinations, with Singapore ranking as Vietnam’s largest foreign investor from January to November 2024. The PS Centre aims to support both inbound businesses entering Vietnam and Vietnamese enterprises seeking regional and global expansion.

The centre focuses on three key areas: facilitating international expansion, enabling business opportunities for professional services firms, and fostering a regional ecosystem for knowledge sharing and strategic networking. This initiative is expected to contribute significantly to Vietnam’s business landscape and strengthen cross-border collaboration.

Univers, a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) for energy, has been recognised as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Global Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) Platforms. This accolade highlights Univers’s EnOS platform for its execution capabilities and comprehensive vision, marking a significant achievement in the company’s seven-year journey.

The EnOS platform, which connects 365 million devices and manages 845 gigawatts of renewable energy—nearly one-fifth of the world’s total capacity—has been pivotal in Univers’s rapid ascent. Michael Ding, Global Executive Director of Univers, stated, “Being recognised as a Leader in the Magic Quadrant so early in our journey is a proud moment for Univers. This recognition underscores the company’s ability to innovate at speed and deliver impact at scale.”

Univers’s AI-first approach enables enterprises to detect risks before they escalate, balance energy flows, and accelerate the transition to low-carbon systems. The company’s ecosystem strength is further evidenced by global integrators embedding EnOS into large-scale deployments and technology partners extending AI capabilities into new industrial and energy use cases.

Looking forward, Univers aims to advance from monitoring and optimisation to fully autonomous operations, empowering industries worldwide to achieve resilience, efficiency, and sustainability at scale. This recognition by Gartner affirms Univers’s commitment to helping industries decarbonise and innovate at scale, solidifying its position as a leader in the AI for energy sector.

Lime Petroleum Holding AS, a subsidiary of Rex International Holding Limited, has appointed ABG Sundal Collier ASA as its exclusive manager to organise fixed income investor meetings. This move could lead to a new Norwegian Krone (NOK) denominated senior secured bond issue, contingent on market conditions and favourable terms. The bond, with a proposed three-year tenor, aims to support the development of assets in Germany and other corporate purposes.

The new bond will hold the same rank as Lime Petroleum’s existing bond, identified by ISIN NO0012559246. This strategic financial manoeuvre underscores Lime Petroleum’s commitment to expanding its operations in Germany, leveraging its proprietary Rex Virtual Drilling technology to de-risk exploration and development assets.

Rex International Holding, listed on the Singapore Exchange, is a technology-driven oil exploration and production company with interests in Norway, Germany, Oman, and Benin. The company has successfully made four offshore discoveries since its listing in 2013, highlighting its expertise in the sector.

The engagement of ABG Sundal Collier ASA marks a significant step for Lime Petroleum as it seeks to secure funding for its ambitious projects. The outcome of the investor meetings and subsequent bond issue will be pivotal in determining the company’s future growth trajectory in the European market.

Jennings Trading Enterprise has launched its innovative Experience Centre at Kranji Green, Singapore, aiming to transform the laminate selection process into a tactile and immersive journey. This centre at 28 Kranji Loop offers a design-led environment for exploring materials.

Unlike traditional showrooms, the Jennings Experience Centre focuses on personalised consultations. Visitors are greeted by indoor sales consultants who guide them through the laminate selection process, ensuring tailored choices. The centre’s layout is designed for effortless navigation, with laminates categorised by design type, such as solid colours, woodgrains, and stones.

Key features include oval-shaped panels for intuitive browsing and pull-out panels for viewing full laminate sheets. The centre showcases Jennings’ complete range of high-pressure laminates, including the new 2025–2027 Designers Collection, which features 10-foot laminates inspired by natural elements.

The Experience Centre caters to homeowners, interior designers, architects, and contractors, offering tailored material recommendations and technical support. Jennings collaborates with design firms and carpentry workshops to stay connected to market demands, including the use of metal laminates in modern interiors.

Jennings is also exploring the integration of interactive digital displays to enhance the showroom experience. The company has opted for a curated launch approach, with private previews for design firms and upcoming promotions on Instagram. Whilst there are no immediate plans for regional expansion, Jennings is open to establishing more local centres based on demand.

M1 has announced it will offer Apple’s latest iPhone models, including the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Pre-orders begin on 12 September, with availability starting on 19 September. M1 is providing exclusive promotions for these models, including a $0 upfront cost with the Bespoke Flexi plan, which offers savings of up to $2,266 for new customers and $2,371 for existing ones.

The Bespoke Flexi plan includes 350GB of data, 1GB worldwide roaming, 500 minutes, and 350 SMS. Additionally, all Bespoke Flexi plans come with up to 3GB of worldwide roaming. For Corporate Individual Scheme (CIS) customers, M1 offers up to a 38% discount on the Bespoke Contract plans, with potential savings of up to $2,900 for new customers and $2,299 for existing ones.

New and port-in customers signing up for the Bespoke Flexi or Bespoke Contract plan will receive an exclusive M1 accessories gift pack valued at $351. This pack includes a 3-in-1 MagSafe Charging Stand, MagSafe iPhone 17 phone case, Apple 20W power adaptor, “Find My” Bluetooth GPS smart tracker, and a tempered glass screen protector with installation.

These offers highlight M1’s commitment to providing value to its customers through attractive deals and comprehensive service plans. For full pricing and availability details, customers are encouraged to visit M1’s official website.
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Asia Pacific markets are showing resilience and strategic growth despite global economic challenges, according to Colliers’ Global Capital Flows Report for September 2025. The report highlights Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong as leading global sources of cross-border capital, whilst Japan and Australia are top destinations, reflecting strong investor confidence in the region.

Colliers’ Managing Director in Singapore, Bastiaan VB, noted, “Singapore continues to demonstrate its dual strength as both a capital source and investment destination.” This sentiment is echoed by Akira Kuno, Executive Director & Head of Capital Markets in Japan, who stated, “Japan’s position among the top global capital sources and destinations highlights its enduring appeal to institutional investors.”

The report reveals that investment activity in Asia Pacific has surpassed 2024 levels by 5% year-to-date, with the region leading in land-led development. Seven of the top 10 global destinations for land and development are in Asia Pacific, including Singapore, China, and India, underscoring the region’s leadership in urban expansion.

Lucy Mallick, International Capital Lead at Colliers, commented on the strategic resilience of the region, noting, “With inflation easing and rate cuts across key markets, we expect capital flows to accelerate in the second half of 2025.”

The office sector remains a standout performer, with Asia Pacific and EMEA leading the global recovery in office investment activity. Meanwhile, the retail sector maintains strong trading levels, and data centre fundraising is gaining momentum due to increased demand for AI and digital infrastructure.